RU2672624C2 - Graphical user interface providing virtual super-zoom functionality - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: data processing; image forming apparatus.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to graphical interfaces. Device comprises a display which includes at least two discrete zoom layers, wherein between the at least two zoom layers it is switched based on a certain user control input.

EFFECT: technical result is enabling continuous variation of the zooming factor while allowing switching between arbitrary zoom layers.

9 cl, 8 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for a graphical user interface (GUI) for providing enhanced virtual scalability functionality that a graphical display user can control from a computer or data processing device or system.

State of the art

In particular, in the field of mobile computing devices, which include, but are not limited to, tablet PCs, laptops, mobile phones or personal digital assistants, user input using a touch screen is becoming more and more popular. In these touch screens, a certain technology for detecting the position of the cursor by the contact of the fingers with the display screen is implemented.

Touch events that track multiple events are known, which simultaneously track the contacts of several fingers. Based on such traced finger contacts, the GUI indicates, scrolls, performs virtual three-dimensional (3D) operations with displayed objects. In some cases, input is tracked using finger gestures and, in response to finger gestures, the device selects the material, visually highlights the selected material and / or updates the selected material based on the tracked input. In other cases, the device displays a command display area that contains one or more command icons, detects the activation of the command icon in the command display area, and, in response to the detection of the activation of the command icon in the command display area, performs the corresponding action for the selected material. Examples of actions are cutting, copying, and pasting material.

In addition to the described user input functionality, scaling functionality is applied that the user controls by increasing or decreasing the distance between two touch points of two fingers. To provide the aforementioned scaling functionality, a magnifying magnifier may be shown, for example, depending on the context, and the magnifying force of the magnifying glass may vary based on the size of the user interface element corresponding to the location of the gesture on the touch surface.

Regarding the mentioned scalability of the GUI functionality, there are several different approaches, respectively, for managing user input or user interaction.

EP 0 990 202 A1 describes a GUI touch screen containing a full set of icons displayed on a scale, with a separate function of each icon being understood, but these icons are too small for easy access to the properties of the function. By touching the area of the screen with the adjustment of the area of the icon, the screen provides an enlarged version of this area, so that the user can select the desired property.

EP 2 492 788 A1 describes a method for scaling in a GUI of an electronic device comprising a touch screen, said method comprising detecting a first, second and third touch event resulting from a first, second and third touch interaction in the first, second and the third coordinate of the touch screen, while controlling the touch screen in order to perform the zoom operation for the image shown in the GUI, depending on the first distance between the first and second coordinates and the second distance between the first and third coordinates.

US 2007 294 643 A1 describes a GUI for graphically controlling usability when navigating an interactive graphics card, the GUI comprising a hierarchy of layers comprising a first layer and at least a second layer. The first range display bar is connected to the first layer and is designed to show the map scale range at which the first layer is displayed on a digitized map, and the second range display bar is connected to the second layer and is made to show the map scale range at which the second layer is displayed on a digitized map . The hierarchy of layers allows the map designer to efficiently organize and manage the layers of the digitized map based on the priority of drawing different layers, the graphic styles associated with each of the different layers, and the scale range of the map, i.e. the scaling factors at which different layers are displayed on the digitized map.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer or data processing device for a screen, preferably a touch screen, wherein the GUI shows at least one virtual two-dimensional or three-dimensional object so that the user can examine the object or navigate it with the minimum requirements for the user to enter control information, while providing functionality for virtual scaling with a wide range the zone of scaling levels, for example, scaling levels that differ from each other by many orders of magnitude.

These scaling levels, in the real world, preferably range from macroscopic scaling levels that can be achieved using an optical microscope (LM) or scanning electron microscope (SEM), to even atomic or nanoscopic scaling, which can only be achieved using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscope (AWP) or tunnel microscope (TM). The scaling functionalities according to the invention provide immediate easy access for the user to all zoom levels and, thus, allow moving around an object from the aforementioned macroscopic view to the aforementioned view of the atomic scale and, thus, can be referred to as virtual superscaling functionality.

Super-scaling functionality in accordance with one aspect or embodiment of the invention is provided by discreetly arranging such various zoom levels using respective layers or zoom levels, wherein each zoom layer can be accessed or activated by the said zoom layer using the appropriate user input for control information. Within a single layer or zoom level, the user can zoom in or out, thereby changing the zoom ratio, using control mechanisms, such as spreading two fingers on the multi-event touch screen mentioned above. When a user wants to switch to a different zoom level, it is useful that there is no requirement to reach the edge or limit (that is, the minimum or maximum possible zoom ratio at one zoom level) of the current zoom level, but, moreover, the user can directly switch to another level scaling, which is either adjacent to the current zoom level, or which is another zoom level, farther from the current a level that is done by implementing action on the control information input in one step or in one press.

The action of entering control information in one step or one click in the case of a touch screen can be carried out using the third finger when scaling on the touch screen, while it is possible to zoom in by spreading two fingers on the screen. Of course, the third finger of the same user's hand or the other (arbitrary) finger of the user's other hand can be used as the third finger. Switching to another zoom level can be supported by a drop-down menu, a scroll wheel or the like, with which the desired zoom level can be selected. In embodiments without a touch screen, certain control commands entered on a computer keyboard or using a computer mouse or any other pointer may be used.

The proposed mechanism for switching between different levels of scaling requires much less time and, accordingly, it is much more convenient for the user in comparison with the approaches existing in the technique. In this regard, this mechanism allows you to switch from one scaling layer to another without any restrictions, for example, switching is possible at any current scaling factor or at any time and, therefore, this mechanism prevents the user from accidentally or unintentionally switching to another level.

In accordance with another aspect or embodiment of the invention, at least two layers or zoom levels, for example, adjacent to or in a picture-in-picture manner, can be simultaneously displayed on a display. Preferably, these two zoom levels are: the previous activated or triggered zoom level and the current activated or triggered zoom level. This embodiment of the invention makes it possible to show the current object or part of this object with two different zoom levels, for example, to facilitate movement across these zoom levels or throughout the hierarchy of zoom levels.

In accordance with another aspect or embodiment of the invention, in the case of said display of at least two layers or zoom levels, any actions or changes made to the object at the current active zoom level will be visible at least the second display of the object using the second zoom level, or the consequences or results of these actions or changes are accordingly made visible, as described in detail in the description below. These features can significantly increase the efficiency and value of, for example, a technical or training tool.

In accordance with another aspect or embodiment of the invention, in addition to the aforementioned discrete arrangement of layers or scaling levels, at least a second discrete arrangement of information layers or levels, respectively, is proposed, wherein at least two discrete arrangements can be implemented as a vertical and horizontal lines of two-dimensional or greater dimension of an array or matrix. Such an array provides easy access to various information levels or topics, while these topics preferably relate to the appropriate level of scaling.

At least a second arrangement of information levels can be used to display or illustrate relevant information for the virtual object that the user is moving along, in particular information adapted to the current active zoom level. For example, in the case where the displayed object is a human body or an organ of the human body, in the case of an activated cellular level of scaling, the screen can show, for example, next to each other, the corresponding biochemical processes or changes, possible causes of a cell or cell-related disease of the disease and / or possible appropriate treatment interventions, thereby improving the user's perception of the displayed information. By way of example only, in the case where the device in question is a training device or tool, the learning process can be significantly improved.

It should be noted that the mentioned virtual objects can be either virtual animated three-dimensional (3D) objects or two-dimensional objects, since the main idea of the present invention does not depend on the number of dimensions of displaying the object on the screen or display.

Functionality of the Invention

super-scaling can be implemented in the GUI to display on the touch screen, which is controlled by the user using the mentioned contacts and / or finger movements. Alternatively, the super-scale functionality may be implemented in a GUI that is displayed on a computer screen or monitor, or a data processing device or system using a known computer keyboard, computer mouse, graphic input tablet or any other user input device. In the case of inputting control information using the keyboard, a certain combination of keyboard control keys may be used. In the case of a computer mouse, a tablet for inputting graphic information, or a similar device, input of control information by a user for super-scale functionality can be carried out using certain combinations of control keys. In the case of a mobile device, the touch screen and / or rotary switch allows you to enter the desired control commands using the data carousel, scroll bar or similar device, for example, by selecting specific rotation angles of the carousel device or the like.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The objects, features and advantages of the invention are understood in light of the following detailed description. A detailed description is clear in view of the attached drawings, which form the material part of this invention and in which:

FIG. 1A, B are views showing an example of the arrangement of layers or zoom levels and the corresponding movement process, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing how to quickly switch between different (not necessarily adjacent) layers or zoom levels;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a procedure according to the invention for switching between different objects or information without changing a layer or level or scaling factor;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a procedure according to the invention for selecting a portion of a virtual 3D object to switch to another layer or zoom level;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a matrix arrangement or structure of layers or scaling levels with respect to various categories of objects;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an embodiment of a method according to the invention, which allows changes made to an object at one zoom level to take effect at a different zoom level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1A and 1B show a device for human biology or human medicine, where the virtual object is the human body. The shown vertical direction of scaling, in this example, provides microscopic or even nanoscopic layers or scaling levels (hereinafter referred to only as “levels”) of the human body, a given organ or human tissue, organ or tissue at the cellular level, organ or tissue at the intracellular level, for example, endothelial cell or mitochondrial structures. In particular, any level of functionality, for example, an organ at a current zoom level, can be shown in statics or dynamics.

However, the present invention can be implemented or implemented in devices used in various fields of science or technology, including, but not limited to, biological systems and processes, or mechanical or electrical devices and processes. In the case where the virtual object is a mechanical or electrical device, the vertical direction (scaling) can provide super-scaling levels for the device itself, miniaturized parts of the machine, printed circuit boards (PCBs) implemented in the corresponding part of the machine, electronic components such as resistors, diodes or transistors implemented on the board, microscopic details of these components and so on.

As in the example shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, at any zoom level, functionalities, for example, a part or component of a machine at the current zoom level, can be shown in statics or dynamics.

The application or device in the present embodiment is implemented in a tablet computer that includes a touch screen, shown schematically in FIG. 1A and 1B. This device provides an example of five levels of 100-120 and 125-145 (super) scaling. The zoom levels 100-120 shown in FIG. 1A relate to the enlargement procedure, and the zoom levels 125-145 shown in FIG. 1B relate to a reduction procedure. In the present example, the switching between the shown zoom levels is carried out sequentially, that is, from one zoom level to the next (neighboring) zoom level. Of course, sliding or picking up with only two fingers in contact with the touch screen will provide a continuous change in the zoom ratio, which is known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the first zoom level 100 depicts the aforementioned human body as a whole, the user's right hand 101 is shown to illustrate an example of user inputting control information using a touch screen. In this example, in addition to thumb 102 and index finger 103, touching the middle finger 104 and simultaneously spreading all three fingers causes switching from the first zoom level 100 to the next (second) zoom level 105. In this example, the second zoom level 105 shows the organ of the human body, in this example, the heart. The third zoom level 110 shows a cross-section of the heart, while the fourth zoom level 115 shows the coronary artery of the heart. Finally, the fifth zoom level 120 shows an endothelial cell in the coronary artery.

As mentioned above, each zoom level (layer) 100, 105, 110, 115, 120 differs from the neighboring zoom level (layer) by a substantially different scaling factor. For example, the fourth zoom level 115 and the fifth zoom level 120 differ from each other to such an extent that details of the coronary artery can be visible to the user using an optical microscope (LM), and details of the endothelial cell can be seen using only an electron microscope (SEM or TOPIC). As a result, using only the known two-finger scaling procedure, the corresponding scaling factors can be obtained either using the low-resolution scaling procedure, thus potentially not showing the corresponding information during scaling, or using the high-resolution scaling procedure , which requires time-consuming and, therefore, time-consuming and user-executed control commands, nnyh to cover the entire range of scaling factors between the two levels 115, 120 scale.

In FIG. 1B shows how a user can zoom out from the fifth scaling level 120 described above, now indicated by 125 and towards the first scaling level 100, now indicated by 145. The fifth scaling level 125 shows said endothelial cell and again shows the right user’s hand 126 with thumb 127, index finger 129, and middle finger 128. To start zooming out and, accordingly, to switch from the fifth level, 125 scaler Bani to an adjacent fourth level of zoom 130, touch position three fingers 127, 128, 129 should be close to or, correspondingly, they must be assembled together and do not spread apart as in the case of zoom procedure (see FIG. 1A). Accordingly, you can get other levels 135, 140, 145 scaling.

It should be mentioned that the procedure for zooming out and zooming out described above is only an example and, as will be apparent from the following description, it is possible to switch not only between adjacent zoom levels, but also between arbitrary zoom levels, when the user uses a certain input of control information.

In FIG. 2 shows an example of a method according to the invention and showing how a method for quickly switching between different zoom levels can be implemented. As in FIG. 1A and 1B, a schematic perspective view of a touch screen 200 of a tablet computer is shown. In addition, the right hand 201 of the user is shown. In this example, fast switching is performed using three fingers, namely the thumb 203, the index finger 202, and the middle finger 204 of the user. Screen 200 shows four zoom levels 205, 210, 215, 220.

In this example, the speed of sliding or gathering three fingers determines the magnitude of the transition with a quick switch. For example, the greater the speed of sliding apart or gathering three fingers, the more zoom levels can be skipped. By way of example only, with a quick switch, you can directly switch from the first zoom level 205 to the third zoom level 215, or even to the fourth zoom level 220, and vice versa, thus skipping intermediate switching to the second zoom level 210. Of course, as in the previous example shown in FIG. 1A and 1B, spreading or picking up two fingers allows the zoom factor to change to an adjacent value, as is known in the art.

However, the super-scaling procedure described above can also be applied based on spreading or gathering two rather than three fingers, but in this case, the speed of spreading or gathering must exceed a certain (minimum) threshold value to prevent a conflict with the above-mentioned continuous change procedure scale factor within one zoom level. Further, it will become clear to a person skilled in the art that the use of three fingers, that is, the third finger as a means of inputting control information, provides much more stable super-scalability functionality compared to using only two fingers (see, for example, the conflict mentioned above).

Alternatively, instead of the described three-finger approach, another means of user input of control information, such as a carousel data device, scroll bar, hierarchical menu or scroll wheel, can be used to select a specific zoom level from the list of all available zoom levels.

In FIG. 3 shows another example of a procedure that is consistent with the invention, and which allows the user to switch horizontally between different information categories or levels (layers) or even objects that preferably belong to an object (e.g., a human organ) shown at the current zoom level. Switching between these different information levels or layers does not change the scaling factor or does not switch to another level or scaling layer. Similar to the previous Fig., The touch screen 300 of the tablet computer is shown, as well as the user's right hand in two positions 303, 304. Other information may be other human diseases for each of the organs or tissues of the human body, shown at different zoom levels, as described in consideration FIG. 1A, 1B and FIG. 2.

In this example, in the horizontal direction (arrows 302), various organs of the human body are shown, namely, the small intestine 305, lungs 310, heart 315, liver 320 and stomach 325. By moving three fingers to the left or right 302, that is, without the above spreading or collecting fingers, these corresponding objects can be selected or loaded. For the currently selected object, such as the small intestine 305 in the example under consideration, the superscaling procedure described above can be applied to switch to other zoom levels for these organs.

In FIG. Figure 4 shows an example of a procedure that corresponds to the invention, and which allows the user to select a region or part of the currently selected object, which in this example is a virtual 3D (three-dimensional) image of the internal organs of the human body (for example, heart 425 and small intestine 420), which need to switch to another zoom level, starting from this area or part. In this example, three screenshots of the touch screen 400 of a tablet computer are shown. In addition, the user's right hand 405, thumb 406, index finger 407, and middle finger 408 of the user are shown.

The position of the three fingers 406-408 when they are spread apart or assembled determines the position of the virtual pointer to the object, which will be used as the starting position when switching to another zoom level. In the present embodiment, the virtual pointer is shown as a cross 480 in a circle. In this example, the position of the virtual pointer on the object is determined by the focus point or equilibrium of three fingers. However, the position can be determined in other ways, for example, using a balanced balance of three fingers, a focus point between two fingers, or the like. If the focus point points to the heart 425, as indicated by arrow 415, the heart 425 will be selected for zooming, including the described switching of zoom levels. Accordingly, if the focal point indicates the small intestine 420, as indicated by arrow 410, the small intestine 420 will be selected to zoom in, including the described switching of zoom levels.

It should be noted that the 3D object shown, before the described selection of the internal organ, can be virtually rotated on the screen, for example, using one finger, while touching the three fingers of the touch screen will produce a virtual pointer, essentially in the center of the three fingers, which indicates the focus position in the currently displayed part of the 3D object, where fast movement to the object with scaling will begin. Depending on the speed of movement of the third finger, a certain zoom level can be selected and, thus, the user can visually increase and decrease the scale of a certain part or section of the object, which is very convenient for the user.

In the application described above for the human body and its organs, a particular advantage of the described approach is that for the currently selected zoom level of the shown body or organ, the corresponding biological functions of a part or organ of the human body can be simultaneously and automatically shown, namely those functions that can be seen at the current zoom level.

For example, at the cellular level of scaling, the user can be shown, or even the user can be examined, the supply of certain nutrient, prophylactic or therapeutic substances to human cells and the reaction of the cell to this. As an example, if the process of arteriosclerosis, which develops at the cellular level, impedes or even stops the flow of blood or its circulation through the artery, the scaling level for organs (above the cellular level) allows the researcher to show, observe or investigate the consequences of myocardial infarction or coronary artery thrombosis, for example , ventricular fibrillation effect.

Since the described approach allows the user to obtain a visual understanding of the complex biological and biochemical mechanisms of interaction, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the described method can be implemented as a training tool.

In FIG. 5 shows an example of a matrix arrangement or structure of zoom levels that correspond to the vertical direction 500, and the various categories of objects or information categories mentioned that correspond to the horizontal direction 505. This arrangement contains eight levels 510, 515, 520, etc. scaling and three layers 510, 525, 530, etc. information categories. Moving or switching between these zoom levels and information layers can be done using the procedures described above and as shown by the various arrows depicted in this location.

We emphasize that the procedures described above allow the user to switch between adjacent zoom levels, for example, levels 510 and 515, or between non-adjacent zoom levels, for example, levels 510 and 520, and / or between adjacent information layers, for example, layers 510 and 525, or between non-adjacent information layers, for example, layers 510 and 530.

We also emphasize that the shown number of zoom levels and object layers / information layers is only an example and may vary. Of course, in the case of a plurality of such levels and layers, the scaling / moving approach according to the invention becomes even more expedient, since it saves a lot of effort and time for using the device or super-scalability functionality accordingly.

In the case of the human body described above, the horizontal direction of the matrix can represent various organs or tissues of the human body, various human diseases, etc. In the case of the aforementioned field of mechanics or electrical engineering, the horizontal direction may concern various parts of the machine.

In FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention. In the procedure shown, a check is first made at 600 to see if at least two fingers of the user have touched. If not, then there is a transition back to the beginning, so that the next part of the procedure will begin only if yes.

If it is determined at 600 that two or more fingers are touching, then at 605 it is checked whether, i.e. during the touch screen contact, the two of the at least two fingers are pushed apart or picked up. If such a spreading or gathering is detected, then in 610 the scaling factor is adjusted accordingly, that is, the displayed object will be displayed on the screen either enlarged or reduced.

At the next step 615, it is checked whether there is a touch of three fingers, which will start the super-scaling procedure described above and, if the condition is not met, then go back to the beginning, to step 600. If three fingers are detected, then in this example an object or part this object is selected at 620 for a possible super-scaling operation, for example, using the virtual pointer 480 described above. After selecting an object at 620, at 625 it is checked whether three fingers are moved together, that is, is there a common Movement, preferably in horizontal directions, or general extension of three fingers. If such a general displacement or spread is detected in 625, then the corresponding 'information category or object is selected in 630, as described above. After selecting a new information category or object, the super-scaling procedure starts again, from the beginning, from step 600.

If, at step 625, a common shift or spread of three fingers is not detected, then in the present embodiment of the present invention, at the next step 635, a scroll wheel or the like is activated and displayed on the screen, which allows the user to select a certain zoom level from the available zoom levels. In a next step 640, it is checked whether the user has selected a particular zoom level using the scroll wheel shown. In this case, the described scaling procedure or the superscaling functionality of the corresponding device or program in 645 directly switches to the selected scaling level, as described in detail above, and then goes back to the beginning, to step 600. Otherwise, you go back from step 640 to the beginning , that is, to step 600.

Of course, the described method is only an example and can be modified while remaining within the framework of the main idea of the invention. In particular, the order of the steps of the described method can be changed and, thus, can be considered only an illustration of the mentioned idea.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 7, which depicts four screenshots 700, 705, 710, 715 of the screen for two different zoom levels 700, 715 and 705, 710. The first zooming level 700, 715 shows the human heart 770, 775, and the second zooming level 705, 710 shows the endothelial cell 760, 765 of the heart 770, 775. We emphasize that in this example of super-scaling movement these two levels are 700, 715 and 705, 710 the scaling is not adjacent, that is, when switching between the two scaling levels 700, 715 and 705, 710, an intermediate scaling level is shown showing the coronary artery. In this example, the process of switching or moving between four screenshots 700-715 is shown by arrows 740, 745, 750, 755.

Reference numerals 720, 725, 730, 735, additionally shown in screen shots 700-715, are current heart rate. The shown change in heart rate from 62 Hz to 89 Hz is caused by the use of a preventive therapeutic substance at a cellular level of 705. The medical or physiological effect of this therapeutic substance, that is, by way of example only, the shown increase in heart rate, in the present embodiment, the GUI also immediately enters force at a higher level of 700 scaling, and in the considered example, it is simultaneously shown at a higher level of 700, 715 scaling by an animation of a heartbeat.

As mentioned above, the first zoom level 700, 715 and the second zoom level 705, 710 can be displayed simultaneously on a single display or screen, thereby improving the information content of the GUI, in particular, improving the way these effects are displayed, for example, at the cellular level and level organs.

The invention can be used mainly for handheld devices with touch screens, but it can also be applied to personal computers using a certain combination of control keys of a computer keyboard, for example, together with a computer mouse. In the case of a keyboard, mouse, or any other user input control device, the method described above (Fig. 6) needs to be changed accordingly, while the steps of checking certain contacts or finger movements need to be replaced by checking the specific input of information by the control device or certain key combinations, which is well understood by the attentive reader. In addition, user input for controlling the described procedures can be implemented using a camera that can detect the direction of the user's gaze and use the detected direction to select an object or zoom level. The finger gestures described above, used when touching the touch screen, in the considered embodiment can be replaced by finger gestures or hands that can be detected by the camera, thus triggering a certain action in the GUI, in particular, the action associated with the described advanced zoom functionality .

The proposed functionality can be implemented in training devices or tools in order to provide easy and quick access to zoom levels covering many magnification orders.

Claims (9)

1. A method of a graphical user interface for providing enhanced virtual scaling functionality for an object shown on a display (200) of a data processing device or system, characterized in that at least two discrete scaling layers (205 - 220) are provided, wherein each of at least two discrete scaling layers (205 - 220) provides scaling layers with minimum and maximum scaling factors, and at the same time within one of at least two s oev (205 - 220) scaling, the scaling factor is changed continuously between the indicated corresponding minimum and maximum scaling factors, which is done by spreading or collecting only two fingers in contact with the touch screen, and at the same time switch between at least two scaling layers based on 1) the user's actions using three fingers (202 - 204), while the speed of sliding or collecting three fingers determines the number of missed levels scaling, or 2) the scaling level is selected from the list of all available scaling levels using the data selection device. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which at least two discrete scaling layers (205 - 220) are simultaneously shown on the display (200). 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein any dynamic changes or any dynamic results of such changes made with the object on the current zoom layer (205 - 220) take effect immediately or become visible on at least the second zoom layer. 4. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which at least two discrete information layers or layers related to the object are provided, and in which information contained in at least two information layers or layers related to the object relates to the selected zoom level. 5. The method according to claim 4, in which at least two discrete scaling layers and at least two discrete information layers or layers related to the object are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. 6. The method according to claim 1, in which the position of at least three fingers (202 - 204) or at least two fingers (202, 203) determines the position of the virtual pointer to the object, which is used as the starting position when switching to another zoom layer. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data processing device or system comprises a keyboard and / or a pointing device, characterized in that the keyboard input and / or pointing device controls the input of the control information by the user. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data selection device is a hierarchical menu, scroll bar or scroll wheel, data carousel, or the like, with which the desired zoom layer can be selected. 9. A graphical user interface device for providing enhanced virtual scaling functionality for an object shown on the display of a device or data processing system, characterized in that the device is adapted to be used in the method according to any one of claims. 1-8.

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